Post Aila, Buddha demands Rs.10 bn central aid

Kolkata, May 28 (IANS) The West Bengal government has demanded that the centre declare the havoc caused by Cyclone Aila in the state as a national calamity and has sought an assistance of Rs.10 billion for carrying out restoration work. In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said his government would incur expenses of over Rs.15 billon in executing the repair work in areas ravaged by the cyclone.

“In view of the extraordinary and severe nature of the cyclone, it is our view that it be declared a national calamity,” the letter said.

Urging the prime minister to provide “at least” Rs.10 billion from the Natural Calamity Contingency Fund of the centre, Bhattacharjee said: “With this fund, along with the Calamity Relief Fund available at the state-level, we can appropriately tackle the situation.”

Bhattacharjee said as per a preliminary assessment, 5.1 million people have suffered in several districts. The death count has crossed 100, he added.